Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Looks like the New York Times also thinks highly of our new hometown! What they failed to mention was how awesome the road and mountain biking is! While living in Frederick and working in DC might sound like a crazy idea ...it's actually working out quite well. Taking advantage of the MARC train, bike commuting, and working from home I have found that I am actually able to get in more quality winter base miles than I ever was while living in DC. Don't get me wrong, DC is a great city; however, I found it to be a very frustrating place for riding ...one more trip down Beach Drive and I would have thrown my bike in Rock Creek and started playing ultimate frizbee ...yeah, it got that bad. Life in Frederick is good ...and Jeff is the best roommate ever. (Photo credit: NYT)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

As if it's not bad enough that our racing age forces us to grow up faster than we're ready, riding in the winter can really age the skin at a rapid rate. I try not to smile while riding into the wind in effort to prevent laugh lines ...but that's pretty hard when your riding with the likes of the Kelley Acres Crew. So, over the years, I have found the following three products to be helpful when trying to protect your face from the unforgiving elements of winter. (photo: Crow's Feet)

1) Ponds Cold Cream (won't clog the pours, but not super wind proof)

2) Vaseline (the best in wind protection and insulation ...just a bit messy to clean up ...you'll melt like a candle as soon as you get home ...and road grit looks like body glitter when it sticks to your face)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Yesterday was pretty hectic. I awoke at 4:45am which gave me just 30 minutes to throw on some clothes and make a mad sprint for the train station (photo: I have become more feminine in recent months). Just as I threw myself into the train car the conductor belted out the battle cry of locomotion into the cold morning air "AlllllAaaaboaaaaaaard!". It was really quite beautiful ...such a strong baritone voice. I quickly found a window seat on the left side of the train and set to work on creating a comfortable place to continue my slumber until we arrived at Union Station ....and then I was struck with that panicked sinking feeling when you realize you have forgotten a crucial item ...damn it! I forgot my bike lock key! Why the hell did I take it home in the first place?! And Ikon O. Klasstis even going to join me for part of my ride home tonight!

After taking an inventory of my options I came up with two possible solutions. Observe exhibit A & B below (photos: taken from random websites)

The Bic pen trick proved fruitless and so I moved on to plan B ....the hack saw. This is how I met Howard. He came down from maintenance hack saw in hand. Turns out it's a lot easier to cut through the straight bar than the actual U part of the lock. Together Howard and I took turns gnawing through the plastic casing and finally into the metal rod core. It took some trying, but finally we freed my bike from it's generic Kryptonite shackles. I might never see Howard again ...but for a brief moment we were a team and together we accomplished something great (photo of actual lock).

Friday, November 14, 2008

My DC news source (Chris McGill) brought my attention to The Who Farm Bus which was recently spotted roaming the streets of Mt. Pleasant. The primary mission of The White House Organic Farm Project is to convince Obama to set aside a portion of the White House lawn as an organic garden. Not sure how likely it is that Obama will go for it ...but it's a great way to get good press for sustainable agriculture! Maybe one day Lafayette Park will be turned into a community garden?

Monday, November 10, 2008

Yesterday was our big RLAGride in the watershed. Word must have travelled pretty fast because I don't know that I've ever seen so many men on those trails. It was a beautiful day to be on the bike in the company of an awesome group of women who ride the rocks with guts and grace.

So good to ride with you ladies! Looking forward to next time! Many thanks to Liz and Julie for all the work they do to keep RLAG going! (photo: from left to right - Liz, Loretta, Cheryl, Debbie, Julie, and Me)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Friday, November 7, 2008

....my commute home is a little scary. Riding for over three hours in an isolated area through the dark of night is a little nerve wracking. However, it is interesting how the fear of rape and murder can really shave down your commute time (maybe I can simulate this same feeling while racing?). As I write this I wonder if perhaps I should not put any ideas in some one's head ...which is why I would like to make it known that I will now be heavily armed with pepper spray,kitchen knives, and a pack of rabid raccoons. (photo: zamboni's photo stream) I was surprised to see two different groups of campers. I think they were equally as surprised to see me. With about ten miles to go my light ran out of batteries and the slow leak I'd been nursing along was losing air at a more rapid rate. So, I rode the last ten or so miles holding a red KnogGekko light out in front while trying not to lose traction from my rear flat. I suppose I could have changed the tube ...but that would have been a perfect opportunity for Jack the Ripper to hop out of the woods and have his way with me. Hmmm ...not really sure that I should be advertising my vulnerabilities, but it is an interesting commute to document for the sake of posterity. All in all, it was a good ride. Anybody wanna move to Frederick and still work in DC? We could keep each other company for the ride home!!! (photo: talkin.nl)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

This morning Jeff and I lined up with our fellow countrymen to cast our ballot down at the Evangelical Lutheran Church on East Church Street. Leaving Frederick roughly around 8am I began my commute into DC along the C&O canal. Maybe it was just me, but people seemed especially friendly and chipper today. Dads were out fishing with their kids, couples strolled along the river hand in hand, ladies jogged by like flocks of geese. Making my way from the hills of Maryland to the epicenter of our nation's capitol the air seemed to be charged with energetic optimism. Rolling by the White House there was a buzz of tourists and media milling around the front gates. Right now the entire world is waiting to hear who will be the next to inhabit this relatively unassuming place of residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. My heart swells with excitement at the prospect of a new era for our country.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Yet another absolutely fantastic weekend in Frederick. Hillary and I put together some last minute costumes for Ange's party and Jeff double dipped on his Korean missile costume ...hey, there is no shame in double dipping. I went for the FridaKahlo look (one of my favorite artists who did her best to make facial hair socially acceptable) and Hillary finally got a chance to break out her new metal detector. After a day at the beach Hillary has quite a collection of treasures stowed away in her fanny pack (is that one word or two?)

Saturday we joined CK (check out the Kelley Acres blog for ride photos!) and Lorena on the Kelley Acres ride. It's SO nice to be just down the road from Chris now ...and some how I still manage to be late? Chris also just started up her computrainer classes ....check out Fred's handiwork. This looks like a perfect place to seek refuge from icy streets in the winter.

On the way home we stopped by the Main Cup for our post ride recovery lattes. Yay!!!

Sunday we plodded towards the ridge on a mission to explore the watershed's newest addition, The Iceberg Trail. I give MAD props to the trail crew! They really built an awesome trail. There were enough rocks there to make Michaux blush (this is no joke) ...I think the local bike shops should go ahead and stock up on rear derailleurs and rotors ...I'm sure a good amount of shit will be eaten there in the coming months ...getting to know new rock garden can sometimes be a pretty steep learning curve. Sadly I did not have my camera in tow ...next time.